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the mother was induced to try and clean up the home and improve
matters, but she was much hindered by her idle and worthless
husband. The mother then became ill and the whole family
were ejected for non-payment of rent.
10.—First child, much emaciated, three months old and only
weighing 5 lbs. It was extremely dirty, so that the dirt appeared
to be ingrained into the skin. The mother was careless, incapable
and afraid to wash the child. The father was in work. Daily
visits were paid to the baby and to instruct the mother how to
wash and feed it. The child gained 1½ lbs. in three weeks.
11.—Child, four months old, ill and wasting. The father had
consumption of the lungs and was a patient in a poor law
infirmary. The mother was destitute. There was no food in the
house. The child had been an out-patient at the Childrens'
Hospital. Boots and food were obtained for the mother, and the
case referred to one of the churches. The baby was put out of
doors all day and suitable food prescribed, and it soon looked quite
well. Twelve visits were paid.
12.—Illegitimate child, 9 weeks old, much wasted, looked after
by the grandmother. Clothing and a bottle were obtained for
the child and its admission secured to The Home for Wasting
Babies, where it improved remarkably in a very short time.
Eleven visits were paid.
The work and visits were at first construed on a liberal basis.
Help was not merely confined to the baby, but was also given to
the parents and to the other children. By this means it was
possible to establish for the Health Visitors a reputation for kindly
and sympathetic treatment, which was very desirable inasmuch
as they have not the right of entry possessed by a lady sanitary
inspector.
The following is a case in point:—
In one house visited there were found two motherless girls, 17
and 14 years respectively—both mentally defective—dirty and
infested with body lice and other vermin. The father was out all
day selling newspapers. The beds and walls of the rooms were
dirty and very verminous. The girls were taken to a cleansing